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EACC to give input on leadership and integrity amendment bill

Commission says gaps in Chapter Six of the Constitution have made corruption war success a mirage

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by Akello Odenyo

News29 September 2021 - 20:00
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In Summary


  • • Many pro-handshake MPs have mooted a plan to lock out graft suspects from clearance to run for election.
  • • The lawmakers are pushing for amendments to the Leadership and Integrity Act to bar anyone facing serious crimes or crimes related to graft from contesting any seat in 2022.
EACC boss Twalib Mbarak and chairperson Dr Eliud Wabukala during a joint press briefing with National Council of Churches of Kenya at Integrity Centre Nairobi on September 29.

The Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission will give its input on the Leadership and Integrity Amendment bill during the public participation stage.

EACC boss Twalib Mbarak said gaps in Chapter Six of the Constitution have made corruption war success a mirage.

“We have had many challenges with the existing law while executing our mandate. We have nine governors who have cases in court but are still in office,” Mbarak said.

He spoke to journalists after a meeting with the National Council of Churches of Kenya.

Mbarak said the amendment of Chapter Six is long overdue as it is exploited by leaders with integrity issues.

“We have politicians with questionable credentials, but they say you cannot get them out of their positions until a court rules on the matter,” he said.

He said they had addressed the issues with the parliamentary Justice and Legal Committee and other multiagency teams.

The commission had met the NCCK to deliberate on the civic vetting of people seeking elective positions to circumvent the inadequate legal mechanism for enforcement of the chapter.

NCCK secretary general Canon Chris Kinyanjui said they will rally their members countrywide to create awareness of the dangers of corruption and church synergy towards good governance and ethical leadership.

He also said the NCCK will appeal to the churches to sensitise their followers to their civil duty to scrutinise and elect leaders of integrity and reject those with outstanding ethical issues.

“NCCK will support the fight against corruption and promotion of ethics through advocacy to shape narrative and champion accountability, ethical conduct, and servant leadership,” he said.

Mbarak said together with the church, they will focus on the youth, as a critical mass of society with various anti-corruption messages to insulate them from misuse by dishonest and unethical politicians during the electioneering.

“EACC and NCCK will continue advocating the strengthening of the legal framework on the implementation on Chapter Six of the Constitution,” he said.

Many pro-handshake MPs have mooted a plan to lock out graft suspects from clearance to run for election.

The lawmakers are pushing for amendments to the Leadership and Integrity Act to bar anyone facing serious crimes or crimes related to graft from contesting any seat in 2022.

The argument against this has always been that suspects are innocent until proved guilty in a court of law and exhaust all possible appeals. That's also in the law.

In the fresh bid to tighten election qualifications, the lawmakers seek to amend the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012, and the Elections Act, 2011.

They want the laws amended to suspended a state or public officer who has been formally charged with a corruption-related offence.

They also want officers facing other serious crimes related to corruption to step aside once charged.

 

Edited by Kiilu Damaris

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